“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Have you ever been around people who had lost all hope because of the circumstances they were facing? Consider a situation the Apostle Paul once endured. While at sea, a violent storm left the ship badly damaged. Yet Paul, a prisoner being taken to stand trial before Caesar in Rome, instead of despair chose to lift the weary spirits of everyone around him. “Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head’” (Acts 27:33-34).

One of the defining characteristics of any life is how it responds to a storm. In this instance, Paul had already seen God work powerfully in his life. Therefore, in the middle of a shipwreck, he remained far calmer than the rest, assured and confident God would come to their rescue. Paul the prisoner became the anchor of hope. After encouraging the desperate sailors, “he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged” (Acts 27:35-36).

Christians are not immune to life’s storms, as Paul’s own experience clearly shows. What distinguishes them is the grace to face every circumstance with hope. If you are going through a storm right now, may your faith rise above the waves, confident that God will come through for you—just as He has done before, and as He will do forevermore.

Reflection: How do I react to storms? Do I feel so discouraged that I lose all hope?

Prayer for today: Lord Almighty Father God, Creator of heaven and earth, on these seas of life where storms come, I look up to You, knowing You will rescue me. I need not worry, because You are the Almighty God, ever in control, and I shall be triumphant—to the glory of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray!